If you're searching for a job, learning how to answer job interview questions is probably one of your greatest concerns. Your resume may have won you the interview, but it's how you respond to both common job interview questions and the more off-the-wall ones that will set you apart or land you straight back in the applicant pool. Fortunately, many career and job search websites include sample answers to common job interview questions.

Some things to consider when researching common job interview questions and answers:

1. What questions employers are most likely to ask
2. What questions they expect applicants to ask
3. What job interview questions are illegal to ask
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research the most frequently asked questions in a job interview

The list of job interview questions varies dramatically between employers, but there are some that are standard to nearly every interview. They'll probably ask you what you think your greatest strengths and weaknesses are, for example, and will want to know why you're applying for that specific position. Many websites list sample interview questions by position or industry, such as sample interview questions for sales jobs.

I recommend: At Job-Interview.net, search the interview question bank by job skills, knowledge and abilities. The interview question database at Quintessential Careers includes 150 questions and sample answers.

Know what questions to ask at a job interview

Many employers close an interview by saying 'Do you have any questions?' This isn't just for the benefit of the prospective employee; it's also a tool for evaluating applicants. Employers place as much importance on what questions you ask as on how you answer their questions. By coming prepared with a list of thoughtful questions, you stand a greater chance of impressing your potential employer.

I recommend: At the Virginia Tech Career Services site, find samples and tips on asking interview questions. Review the questions most commonly asked by job applicants at GradView.

Find out what job interview questions are illegal

Employers are granted some latitude in quizzing potential employees; after all, they are investing time and money in the person they hire, and sometimes they need to ask difficult questions to determine who's the right candidate for the job. However, some questions are illegal no matter what kind of job you're applying for. Knowing these questions before you interview allows you time to prepare a response, and alerts you that this may not be a company you'd feel comfortable working for.

I recommend: Find out what an employer cannot ask you at FindLaw, JobBank USA and WorkTree.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Once you've put together your responses to the most common job interview questions, practice them until you feel comfortable and natural doing so. If possible, recruit a fellow job-seeker to help you, and you can both take turns playing the part of the interviewer and the interviewee

Job interviews are often challenging for both the interviewer and job candidates. Job interview questions and answers will weed out bad candidates and advance those that will fit well with the company.

The interviewee — the job seeker — needs to anticipate common job interview questions and respond quickly and professionally. It is the job of the candidate to show the interviewer he is the most qualified for the position and ready to work hard for the company.

Consider and study job interview questions and answers before the interview, whether you are hoping to be hired or are doing the hiring, in order to:

1. Be prepared for the interview with a list of job interview questions for the other person.

2. Appear calm, collected and professional. The more ready you are before the interview, the less nervous you will be during the process.

3. Learn how to answer job interview questions and get the job.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consult books to help with common job interview questions and answers

Find sample answers to job interview questions in books written specifically for your industry or career stage. Visit your favorite bookstore or online retailer to find the perfect guide.

I recommend: Browse bookseller websites for interview preparing guides. Peter Veruki, Vicky Oliver and Pat Criscito write books for the job seeker to learn how to answer tough questions with carefully prepared answers. Victoria A. Hoevemeyer writes for the interviewer, giving suggestions for tough interview questions to ask candidates.

Find questions to ask at a job interview as the interviewer

Hire the right person by asking the right questions during the interview. Find sample job interview questions, such as 'Tell me about yourself,' and 'Why did you apply for this position?' to find out what type of experience the candidates have, how that experience has shaped their personalities and what they plan to do to succeed in the industry.

I recommend: Find sample job interview questions from "The Accelerated Job Search" by Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D. JobInterviewQuestions.org gives various articles about which questions you should use and which you should avoid in an interview setting. QuintCareers.com gives you a list of open ended behavioral-based questions while Virginia Tech Career Services gives sample questions relating to goals and education relating to the job.

Discover questions to ask at a job interview as the job seeker

As a contender for a particular job, you should not only prepare answers to commonly asked job interview questions but should also prepare questions of your own to ask the interviewer. Ask about the interviewer's experience with the company, the typical work day, how long employees usually stay in the position and inquire about advancement opportunities within the company.

I recommend: Look for job interview questions and answers when preparing for the meeting. Browse Resumemagic.com, GradView.com and Pam Pohly's guide for sample interview questions that you should always ask--not just to seem interested but because you are, in fact, interested in the answers.

Look for possible answers to common job interview questions

To see what the interviewer is hoping to hear during the meeting, consult a list of sample job interview questions and answers. Rather than copy these answers word for word, use them to see what employers are looking for and adjust your own answers to meet the requirement.

I recommend: Become familiar with the answers businesses want to hear from employee candidates and incorporate your own situation. Consult Monster.com, CollegeGrad.com, Bspcn.com for practical answers to tough questions and JobBankUSA.com for interview questions for sales jobs and other industry specialties.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Practice frequently asked questions in a job interview beforehand until you feel you're ready for the interview. Take deep breaths, control nervousness, maintain eye contact with the interviewer and focus on your answers.
• •  Be truthful throughout your interview. Whether you're the employer or the candidate, give truthful answers to the questions you are asked. If you don't know an answer, focus on something you do know rather than lie.

If you're preparing for a job interview, you need to know everything from the most commonly asked job interview questions to which questions to ask at a job interview. Many questions are common to every kind of industry and business, but you'll also need to research what's relevant to your field, such as interview questions for sales jobs.

Through workshops, one-on-one coaching and in-person guidance from career experts, you can prepare answers that reflect your personality and skills, and set you apart from the competition. Job interview questions education and training options include:

1. Taking a job interviewing workshop or seminar
2. Hiring a job coach or consultant
3. Seeking job interview question advice from your university's career services office
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take a workshop that covers common job interview questions and answers

Many job coaching firms offer job interview preparation seminars and workshops that can help prepare you for answering and asking questions during an interview.

I recommend: Academic and Business Communication offers a job interviewing seminar that includes rehearsing answers to the toughest interview questions. Acting for Business, a Pittsburgh job coaching firm, offers several job interviewing workshops, including "Tell Me About Yourself," which helps participants create a powerful response to the frequently asked questions in a job interview, and the "Why are you the best person for the job?" workshop, which helps participants formulate an on-target response to another commonly asked interview question. The firm also offers an interview practice workshop, in which participants rehearse answers to common job interview questions.

Hire a consultant to teach you how to answer job interview questions

For more personalized preparation, consider hiring a job coach. They can not only tell you the most commonly asked job interview questions, but also help you evaluate your background and strengths to put together the most powerful response.

I recommend: Carole Martin, "The Interview Coach," offers personal interview coaching through The Interview Coach Company. A certified personal coach will help you choose the best responses to commonly asked job interview questions. The company also offers a free 10-minute analysis, and offers two options for its full telephone coaching package: two 50 minute sessions or one 90-minute session. You can also schedule in-person coaching if you're in northern California or in Chicago. Beth Ross Executive Coaching offers job interview training for every stage of career transition.

Ask your college's career services office for job interview question assistance

Many colleges and universities offer job interview preparation help through their career services or career placement offices. These services are often free for students and alumni.

I recommend: Whether your school is a two-year, four-year or technical institute, it probably offers services similar to those offered by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill or the University of Richmond Law School.

Job interviews can be stressful not only for the job candidate, but also for the interviewer. When you prepare to interview a potential job candidate, be sure you know what questions you want to ask to get the answers you are looking for. There are some key questions you need to know the meaning of. For example, make sure you are asking a mix of situational and behavioral questions. Make sure you understand what you are looking for when you ask about diplomacy and self starters. It is important to know the purpose of a second interview and to also be aware of what illegal interview questions are.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Situational interview questions

Situational interview questions are questions to ask a potential employee in which you state a hypothetical situation and ask the candidate what they would do in that situation, or how they would handle the hypothetical situation.

I recommend: Quintessential Careers discusses situational interview questions and some examples of what they would be.

Behavioral interview questions

Behavioral interview questions are questions that you can ask a potential candidate that will help to give you an idea on how they will react to certain situations based on their past behaviors.

I recommend: Career Services Virginia Tech offers a great explanation of what behavioral questions are and how they help you gauge how a potential employee might react in certain situations. It also gives examples of behavioral interview questions.

Diplomacy skills

Diplomacy skills exhibit a person's temperament when working with other people. To find out if a potential job candidate has diplomacy skills, you might want to consider asking questions about their temperament and professionalism when dealing with customers and co-workers.

I recommend: JobBankUSA has excellent examples of diplomacy questions that you can ask potential job candidates and what you should look for in their answers.

Second interview

A second interview means that you have established that a few potential employees have the skills to do the job, now you need to conduct a second interview to see who will fit in best with your business. Use this time to ask specific questions as well as to try to get a feel for the candidates personality.

I recommend: CollegeRecruiter.com talks about what a second interview is and what the difference is between a first interview and a second interview.

Self starter

You might want to ask a potential employee if they consider themselves a self starter. A self starter is someone who can work with minimal supervision, will stay up-to-date on the skills needed to do their job and overall will be independently successful unsupervised.

I recommend: Resumagic.com further defines what a self starter is and how future employees might answer that question.

Illegal interview questions

There is no list of illegal interview questions, but you still need to be careful when preparing for an interview. Illegal interview questions are any discriminating questions that do not help you determine the person's ability to do the job, such as questions about age, religion or sexual orientation.

I recommend: Job Interview Questions give you examples of illegal interview questions and alternative legal questions to ask.